POLL: How Would Post Office Closures Affect You?
Arlington Heights and East Arlington branches are on a list of 3,700 post offices that could soon be closed.
The U.S. Postal Service is in dire financial trouble, and locations in Arlington Heights and East Arlington are on a list of 3,700 branches nationwide considered for closure. They are two of Arlington's three post offices, as the list does not include the Postal Service's main branch in Arlington Center.
On Monday, USPS officials came out to Town Hall on Monday to hear what residents think about the possible closure.
Dozens of attendees said the move could lower quality of service and decrease access for disabled and elderly residents of the town.
What do you think? If the below poll is not enough to express your thoughts, please feel free to use the comment box below.
SSB
2:30 am on Wednesday, October 5, 2011
I typically use the main post office on Court Street, but closing the branches would make it harder for residents and businesses in East Arlington and Arlington Heights to do their postal business. It would make it necessary for many residents/businesses to drive instead of walk to a neighborhood post office branch. Residents in Lexington probably utilize the Arlington Heights Branch, so they would also be impacted in Lexington. It would make it even more difficult for everyone to find parking when using the Court Street post office (when it is already often quite difficult to park there.) It would make lines longer for everyone if all postal business in town were handled out of one site.
I think it's a bad idea. I think that people should try to preserve the postal service as we know it. The changes should be to repeal the recent 2006 law that put financial budget requirements on the USPS (which are not required of any other Government or Quasi-Government agency) that is making the USPS set aside 75 years worth of health/pension funds that they could use for their operating budget and remain solvent. Again, no other agency or business has these requirements - only the USPS for some political reason.
Remember - the USPS does not use taxpayer funds to operate!! They do not operate for profit - they're not allowed to. They are very efficient and have been streamlining operation costs over the years.We should fight to preserve the wonderful service that we have enjoyed.